MOUNT VERNON — Election boards hope for what one might call a “boring” election because it means everything went as smooth as silk.
When things go awry, chaos can erupt. That can lead to delayed results, long voter lines, or potentially postponed elections.
Knox County voters no longer have to worry about power outages, malfunctioning equipment, or a flooded precinct.
Last week, the Knox County Board of Elections launched Ohio’s first mobile command-and-support unit to maintain uninterrupted operations on Election Day.
The V.O.T.E.R (Voter Onsite Tech Emergency Response) vehicle carries essential tools and systems to support polling sites in crisis.
“This is something new and something really special for our county,” Board of Elections Director James Blazer said. “It’s the only one of its kind in the state of Ohio. We’ve informed the Secretary of State. He’s very excited about it and what it will enable us to do.”
The VOTER vehicle is a partnership between the BOE and the Knox County Veterans Service Office.
“They purchased a van earlier in the year which has a generator on board. It’s a mobile office for when they go to the fair or they go to different events,” Blazer explained.
“We’re using that, and repurposing it and rebranding it for Election Day. The idea is that we will put some of our equipment on the van and be prepared in case a precinct goes down.”
Blazer said the partnership with Veterans Services serves as an example for other boards to partner with county agencies.
‘A precinct on wheels’
The VOTER vehicle carries voting equipment, emergency communication devices, backup power, logistical supplies, and technical troubleshooting capabilities.
It is set up to handle ballots across all precincts.
“So if a precinct goes down for a gas leak or whatever the case may be, loss of electricity, we will be able to take this and bring it out. It has generators on board, and we can just set up another precinct no matter where we need it to be set up,” Blazer said.
“Hopefully we won’t need to use it, but it’s going to be prepared and ready to go, and it will be a precinct on wheels.”
Knox County board of elections director james blazer
Blazer said the Board of Elections is always preparing for contingencies.
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the board held an emergency preparedness meeting with local, regional, and state stakeholders to examine contingency plans for the office on East Sugar Street and individual polling locations.
Participants included BOE staff, Knox County Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
First responders, utility providers, and county and municipal officials also attended.
“Last year during the presidential election, we had a portable generator set up for the building in case there was a loss of electricity or a number of different things,” Blazer said.
The director said that election staff go through a variety of desktop disaster scenarios with EMA Director James T. DeChant and his staff.
“We also do it with the Secretary of State’s office. In order for us to run through all those different scenarios, this then became something that was rather kind of an easy thing,” Blazer said.
Prepared for anything
A Republican and a Democrat will man the mobile command vehicle.
“So the custody of all the equipment and everything is still maintained, just like it is here in our office,” Blazer said.
“We’re doing it on a very shoestring budget. There’s not much money involved in it at all because the equipment already exists. It’s just using our equipment and having the way to transport it to the location wherever the issue is.”
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he learned in the Army to be prepared for anything.
“I applaud the Knox County Board of Elections for thinking outside the box, leveraging local partnerships, and working to ensure readiness for smooth election operations,” he said.
Blazer appreciates the VSO making the van available to the Board of Elections.
“This collaboration demonstrates how joining resources can strengthen our capacity to serve the public,” he said.
“Together, we are better prepared to preserve smooth, secure elections across Knox County.”